NEWS & SUCCESS STORIES

NEWS // October 31, 2014

National Food Day Event Minimizes Access-Barriers for Vista Residents

With only one major super market in the neighborhood, healthy food
choices are slim for the Townsite neighborhood residents of Vista. Not
only is healthy food difficult to access geographically in this
community, but also financially. Knowing that this is an issue, local
residents and Vista Community Clinic in partnership with Feeding
America, designated a mobile food pantry site in Vista.

For the past three years, twice a month, hundreds of community members
line up around the block to receive food at a local church. Each year
in October, an interactive and informational health fair is paired
with the food distribution in honor of Food Day. Celebrated throughout
San Diego County, Food Day is a nationwide event that serves to
highlight the need for healthy, affordable and sustainable food.

On October 28, 2014, the CX3 (Communities of Excellence in
Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention) residents of
Vista, in partnership with the County of San Diego Health and Human
Services Agency (HHSA), planned and organized their third Food Day
celebration which helped provide food for over 200 families. In order
to address the social factors contributing to food insecurity, this
year’s Food Day celebration was centered on linking the high-need
community with a variety of health resources.

Participants were able to get blood pressure readings, participate in
mental health screenings, listen to a diabetes presentation and learn
about the Rethink Your Drink campaign. In addition, resources on
Covered California and CalFresh were available. The participants were
not the only ones getting valuable information. This event provided
insight to service providers on the community’s growing need for
mental health services.

Community members lined up for
the Check Your Mood booth, which was administering surveys to assess
for recent symptoms of depression. An astonishing 93 individuals were
assessed with an alarming number scoring higher on the scale,
indicating an immediate need for intervention. Many were referred to
a mental health professional on site and this response indicates that
food insecurity and mental health issues are not isolated problems –a
concern that the CX3 residents, Vista Community Clinic and HHSA
together plan to address in this community.